donum Latin · revision 4676

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *deh₃-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈdoː.nũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdɔː.num]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dōnum''' ''n'' (genitive dōnī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Old inscriptions have ''dōnom'' and ''dunom''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*dōno-|t=gift]], [[inh|ine-pro|*deh₃-no-|t=gift]], from the root of [[dō]] “to give”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) Cognate with Venetic [[m|xve|donom|t=gift]], [[osc|dunum|t=gift]], [[xum|dunum|t=gift]] and [[sa|दान|tr=dā́na|t=gift]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was a present or gift, an offering to a god, as on early inscriptions, a blessing from a god, such as Bacchus' gifts, and an act of favour.^(OLD 2012) Ovid's ''ultima dōna'' were the last rites.^(Gaffiot 2016) Döderlein contrasts ''dōnum'', a free gift to give pleasure, with [[mūnus]], a gift in return for services.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was a deed of gift, a compulsory gift to the king and a bribe, and also natural talent.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW)^(DMLBS) It survives as [[it|dono]], [[fr|don]] and [[es|don]].^(Wiktionary) English ''donation'' comes from [[dōnātiō]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-15th century – English ''donation'' is recorded, from ''dōnātiō''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|gift]], present.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # An offering (to a god).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A blessing, gift (of a god).^(OLD 2012)

+ # A favour, bounty.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A deed of gift; a [[m|en|bribe]]; talent.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS)^(MLW)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dōnificō]]

+ * [[dōnō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dō]]

+ * [[dōnātiō]]

+ * [[dōnātīvum]]

+ * [[mūnus]]

+ * [[en|donation]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Isidore says that a ''dōnum'' is anything made of gold, silver or another material.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}